Stagey Catch Up: Jake Gyllenhaal lands another musical role, Declan Bennett set for final Made In LDN & Woman in Black to tour UK

Here are some stagey stories to keep you up-to-date with theatreland!

Jake Gyllenhaal to star in Sunday in the Park With George

Having starred in Little Shop of Horrors last year, Jake Gyllenhaal is taking on another musical. The Hollywood actor will play the title role in Sunday in the Park with George for a one-night-only benefit performance for New York City Center on 14th October 2016. Gyllenhaal has previously appeared in If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet on Broadway and This Is Our Youth in the West End. Surely he has to take on a major Broadway/West End musical soon..?!

Declan Bennett, Jamie Muscato and Tori Allen-Martin to star in final Made In LDN

Interval Productions will present the final Made In LDN at the Cockpit Theatre on 12th June. Showcasing new British musical theatre writing, Declan Bennett will perform An Innocent Evening of Drinking which is a musical he co-write with Phil Griffin. The cast will also include Interval's Tori Allen-Martin as well as Jamie Muscato and Callum Fitzgerald. Interval will also share an excerpt from a work in development, Boxed.

West End stars Declan Bennett & Danny-Boy Hatchard join Eastenders

Over the past few days it has been revealed that two West End stars are joining the cast of Eastenders.

Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels

Star of West End musical Once, Declan Bennett (pictured right), is joining the BBC Soap in the role of Dot Branning's grandson Charlie Cotton. Charlie - Nick's eldest son - will leave Dot shell-shocked by turning up on her doorstep unexpectedly later this year. He will begin filming at EastEnders later this month and appear on screen from March.

Newcomer Charlie is named after his grandfather, but Dot (June Brown) is currently unaware of his existence. Once Charlie is in Walford, viewers will be left to wonder why he has decided to track Dot down after so many years - and whether he has taken after the good or bad members of his family.

Declan said: "I'm delighted to be joining the cast of EastEnders, especially at what seems to be an extremely exciting time for the show. June Brown is not only an incredible actress but has also created one of TV's most iconic characters, so to be working alongside her is a dream come true."

Once extends booking to July 2015; Declan Bennett & Zrinka Cvitešić to leave in March

It has been announced that the West End production of Once has extended its booking period at the Phoenix Theatre to 4th July 2015. Over 400,000 new tickets will be released on Friday 24th January 2014. The eight time Tony award-winning musical, directed by John Tiffany, opened at the Phoenix Theatre in April last year.

The current cast, led by Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešić as Guy and Girl respectively, will continue until 8th March 2014. Bennett will then go on to join the cast of EastEnders, where he will play Charlie Cotton, Dot’s grandson.

Declan said: “In April last year I began what has been an incredible journey at the Phoenix Theatre playing the role of Guy in Once. This job has given me one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I will only have fond memories and great recollections of my time in the show. I am very excited to be embarking on a very different path in my career moving from stage to screen playing Charlie Cotton in the iconic BBC TV Soap EastEnders. I, of course, will miss treading the boards in the West End, but I am very much looking forward inhabiting my new East End role. I wish the new Once cast as much enjoyment and pleasure as I have experienced throughout my time with the show.”

Photo Feature: Declan Bennett visits the Broadway production of Once!

Declan Bennett, who plays Guy in the West End production of Once, dropped in to visit Arthur Darvill and Joanna Christie who play Guy and Girl in the Broadway production during a visit to New York last Friday (6th December). They met on the show's onstage bar at the Bernard B. Jacob’s Theatre where they swapped anecdotes about performing on both sides of the Atlantic in the musical which is based on the 2007 Academy Award winning film.

See photos below (click on an image to enlarge).

West End cast of Once release online EP

The West End cast of Once recently recorded five songs from the musical, which opened in the West End earlier this year. You can stream the online EP, which features Gold, Say It To Me Now, When You're Mind's Made Up, The North Strand and Falling Slowly, below.

The EP features the full London cast including: Declan Bennett, Zrinka Cvitesic, Valda Aviks, Phoebe Fildes, Ryan Fletcher, Aidan Kelly, Gareth O'Connor, Michael O'Connor, Jos Slovick, Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Jez Unwin and Gabriel Vick.

John Tiffany’s production opened at the Phoenix Theatre in April this year and in August Zrinka Cvitešić won the 2013 West End Frame Award for 'Best West End Debut'. Read our interviews with Zrinka Cvitešić and Declan Bennett.

Photo Feature: Once releases new images of the cast in action

The West End production of Once has released new production images. The musical, currently booking at the Phoenix Theatre until 31st May 2014, stars Declan Bennett and West End Frame award winner Zrinka Cvitešić as 'Guy' and 'Girl'. Take a look at the images below (click on a picture to enlarge).

John Tiffany’s West End production opened at the Phoenix Theatre in April this year. In August, the musical's leading lady, Zrinka Cvitešić, won the 2013 West End Frame Award for 'Best West End Debut'. Read our interviews with Zrinka Cvitešić and Declan Bennett. 

Based on the much-loved Oscar-winning film, Once is a celebration of love, friendship and music. When an Irish busker and a young Czech mother meet through a shared love of music, their songwriting sparks a deep connection and a tender, longing romance that neither of them could have expected.

Interview: Declan Bennett, currently starring in Once at the Phoenix Theatre

Declan Bennett is currently starring as 'Guy' in the West End production of Once at the Phoenix Theatre. Declan is a singer/ songwriter who writes candid pop music for a generation steeped in therapy and conversation. His penchant for sharing deeply honest tales of love and sexuality have won him a diverse and devoted fan base across the UK and America, arousing a relentless desire to listen to his unashamed, engaging lyrics again and again. 

No stranger to the stage (with mainstream chart success by the age of 20, a lead role in the award-winning pop biography ‘Taboo’ at 21, and an extended trip to America to star as Roger in the cult rock opera Rent), Declan released his second full-length album An Innocent Evening Of Drinking in April 2008. He went on to open for Boy George on his 31 date UK tour, widening his ever-expanding audience of listeners and soon after was asked to return to the States to join the original cast of Green Day’s American Idiot on Broadway.

Last summer he also starred alongside singer/songwriter Nellie McKay in his first feature film Downtown Express and his most recent music video for his song 'Freer' won Most Moving Video at the RightOut Video Music Awards. His 3rd album ‘record:BREAKUP’ is out now.

Are you enjoying your time in Once so far?
I'm having a great time. The cast, crew and creative team are among the most talented people I've ever had the pleasure to work with. I'm a huge fan of the score and of the piece's entire content. It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to share Once with London audiences.

Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešic to lead West End cast of Once at the Phoenix Theatre

It has been announced that Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešic will lead the cast as Guy and Girl respectively in John Tiffany's West End production of the Broadway hit musical opening at The Phoenix Theatre in Spring 2013.

The London production of Once will open at The Phoenix Theatre on 9th April, with previews from 16th March 2013 and is currently booking to 30th November 2013. Prior to its West End opening Once will run at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin from 22nd February - 9th March 2013.